Harrisburg, PA – Today, the Pennsylvania Workforce Development Association (PWDA) released a Youth Demographic Study to shed light on the employment trends, labor force participation, and migration patterns of the youth population in Pennsylvania.
“Pennsylvania’s demographic shift is clear: as our population ages, we simply can’t afford to leave young people on the sidelines,” said Lauren Holubec, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Workforce Development Association. “Investing in youth workforce development isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s an economic necessity to sustain our Commonwealth’s future.”
Pennsylvania’s Youth Population is Stagnant While Retirement Age Group Explodes
Over the years, Pennsylvania’s youth population has largely remained stable or experienced slight growth. However, a concerning trend has emerged: while the youth population has stayed relatively the same, the number of individuals in the retirement age group has more than doubled since 1990, leading to an inversion of the ratio between youth and retirement-age individuals.
As a result, despite Pennsylvania’s growing population, the youth segment now represents a shrinking portion of the total population. The population imbalance poses a significant challenge for employers, as the stagnant growth of the youth demographic makes it increasingly difficult to build a strong talent pipeline.
With fewer young people entering the workforce, employers may struggle to meet their staffing needs and drive growth.
Youth Participation Shows Signs of Recovery, But More Action Needed to Sustain Gains
Pennsylvania does not exhibit a concerning brain drain or net loss of youth, as the data shows that the commonwealth gains as much talent as it loses through migration. Pennsylvania is beginning to reverse a decades-long trend of declining Youth Labor Force Participation Rates (LFPR) and falling education levels. While LFPR has yet to fully recover to pre-2005 averages, fewer young people are sitting on the sidelines compared to recent years.
With employment opportunities available for the youth demographic, the key to further progress lies in actively connecting youth to these opportunities and engaging them in the workforce.
Solutions to Strengthen Pennsylvania’s Youth Workforce
Pennsylvania must focus on solving the imbalance between retiring workers and young talent. Workforce development organizations can help train young workers and connect them with businesses that need talent.
Investing in youth is a workforce imperative: As Pennsylvania’s population ages and the youth share declines, strategic investment in youth workforce development is essential to sustaining long-term economic vitality. Demographic trends clearly show that the future of the labor market depends on engaging and preparing today’s young people.
Workforce development is economic development: The report underscores the urgency of embedding youth workforce strategies into Pennsylvania’s broader economic and education planning. Strengthening connections between local employers, educators, and Local Workforce Development Boards will be key to building a resilient talent pipeline.
Youth migration patterns are balanced but regionally uneven: The Commonwealth does not suffer from an overall brain drain, but migration is highly concentrated in urban areas. Nearly half of all youth live in just two MSAs – Philadelphia and Pittsburgh – while rural areas hold only 15.6% of the youth population. Regional strategies supported by Local Workforce Development Boards will be critical to addressing localized challenges and leveraging in-migration trends.
Local solutions require sustained & flexible support: Workforce development challenges and opportunities vary significantly by region. Local boards are well-positioned to respond, but doing so effectively will require flexible and sustained federal and state investment to tailor programs that meet youth where they are.
“The Pennsylvania Workforce Development Associations’s study on youth workforce shows that a one-size-fits-all approach won’t work,” said Holubec. “We need flexible, locally driven solutions to connect young people to opportunities, especially in rural and underserved areas. Pennsylvania’s workforce boards are ready to lead but need sustained support.”
Methodology: PWDA partnered with Lightcast, which relied on data from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year (2023) and the Current Population Survey’s Annual Social and Economic Supplements (ASEC) from 1990 to 2024. While both sources provide valuable insights, it is important to note that some of the data measurements may vary between them. The study focused on individuals aged 16 to 24, constituting the defined youth demographic.
Lightcast is the world’s leading authority on job skills, workforce talent, and labor market dynamics, providing expertise that empowers businesses, education providers, and governments to find the skills and talent they need and enabling workers to unlock new career opportunities. Headquartered in Moscow, Idaho, Lightcast is active in more than 30 countries and has offices in the United Kingdom, Italy, New Zealand, and India.
The Pennsylvania Workforce Development Association (PWDA) serves as the voice of the Pennsylvania workforce development system and a clearinghouse for workforce development information statewide. Known for Pennsylvania’s premier annual workforce development gathering every spring, we provide development and capacity-building opportunities to workforce development professionals, local workforce development boards (WDBs), and other stakeholders while continuing proactive advocacy efforts on behalf of Pennsylvania’s workforce development system. Learn more by visiting https://www.pawork.org
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